Assessment:
Plot: January’s plot is steeped with fast-paced betrayal and intrigue. The storyline adequately portrays intense conflict within an authentic setting, and the novel stays grounded while balancing evocative details.
Prose/Style: January writes succinctly, with accurate period vernacular. His prose is crisp overall, despite some slight straying into moments of awkward dialogue.
Originality: The Boy King’s Tale intermingles the historical fiction details that readers will be looking for with some added striking and tantalizing character portraits that give it an edge.
Character Development/Execution: January’s characters stay mostly true to form and efficiently capture their bases in history. Queen Isabella will turn heads with her appeal bordering on instability, while King Edward tries to fulfill his role of a dedicated and fair ruler despite his personal demons.
Date Submitted: August 24, 2021
"The Boy King's Tale: as Told by Geoffrey Chaucer" by Michael January receives five stars and our "Highly Recommended" Award of Excellence. The author does a remarkable job of showing the entwining story of two vastly different loves - one of pure ambition and selfishness of the aging couple, and the pure, fresh, and vibrant love of the younger couple... all enmeshed in the story of Edward II's fall and the resulting political turmoil. The characters come alive on the pages, emoting real human emotions: abandonment, pain, fear, and ultimately, love, courage, and strength. This is an unputdownable must-read for anyone interested in this medieval world...a commendably crafted remarkable historical novel."
"I am a gigantic fan of historical novels deeply rooted in factual history and The Boy King’s Tale is certainly that. Author Michael January made an exceptional choice to tell the tale through the eyes of Geoffrey Chaucer, as this lent some real gravitas to the story and one could be forgiven for thinking one was reading a history book.
The Boy King’s Tale: True Adventure of the Young Life of England’s King Edward III by Michael January takes us back on a journey to medieval England at the beginning of the fourteenth century. When Edward II is accused of unnatural acts by Queen Isabella, she, in concert with her lover, Mortimer, move against the king and seek his removal. The teenage Edward III is anointed as the “boy king”, with his mother the true power behind the throne with the scheming, Mortimer, who has designs on the throne for his own family. Forced to grow up quickly and accept the mantle thrust upon him from an early age, Edward III is determined to rule justly, honestly, and with honor. The story is redolent with the intrigues, battles, and psychological warfare. Beautifully written and easy to read, the story flows from one drama to the next. The two main characters, in my opinion, were Edward III and Philippa, and both were drawn superbly by the author. For anyone that loves tales of knights, derring-do, and chivalry, this is a fantastic read but for anyone who just enjoys a rollicking good story, this is a book I can highly recommend."
